Tigard Street Fair and Latino Festival draws hundreds to Main Street

Hundreds of area residents packed into Downtown Tigard late Saturday morning for the 7th Annual Explore Downtown Tigard Street Fair and Latino Festival.

There they were greeted by vendors selling an assortment of wares, booths featuring campaigning state and local politicians as well as a music stage and loads of kids' activities.

With a booth near the entrance of the fair on Main Street, State Rep. Margaret Doherty, said she was enjoying the annual event, having been at almost all of the previous street fairs and thought this one was larger than last year's.

Dorherty said many of those who came up to her booth know who she is and what some of the Oregon Legislative issues are.

Doherty is running against Republican challenger Bob Niemeyer, who also had a booth at the event.

Among this year's street fair vendor attractions was the Traveling Bubble Fairy, aka Ashley Blose. Blose's booth space consisted of selling large bubble-making wands constructed by attaching two long dowels, string and a fishing weight.

Once dipped in her secret soapy solution – you get the recipe if you purchase a wand – Blose and two children were demonstrating the simple invention that creates huge bubbles, which wafted down Main Street that wafted into the air. (Well, some didn't make it too far because children tried to pop them).

"I've been doing this for two years," said Blose, who is originally from Arizona and travels around the country with her creation. "I don't make a killing but I make enough to get by."

Helping her display her wares were the brother and sister team of Carter, 10, and Summer Bissell, 7, whose father was manning the nearby Hawaiian Shaved Ice booth.

Meanwhile, in a back room at Café Allegro, Stacy Metzger, part of the Washington County Medical Reserve Corps, was showing a group of 20 people how to prepare for "The Big One" as part of this year's "Quake Up" presentation.

Metzger displayed ways to store food in clear zipper bags in anticipation of the predicted Cascadia Subduction Zone quake that's expected to devastate the Northwest. Metzger, who holds a master's degree in geology, talked about the importance of having emergency first-aid kits available as well, emphasizing that everyone should include large rolls of gauze. The most common injury following an earthquake is cut hands and feet, she said.

Along with food staples, she also stressed the importance of having goodies to enjoy during such a disaster.

"You want to make sure you have comfort foods," she said, holding up a small box of chocolates. "I figure after the earthquake, a little box of chocolates like this is worth 50 bucks."

Stan Houseman, who began "Quake Up" four years ago, said this was the first year the event has been held in Tigard. Houseman and his wife Susan had a variety of displays on hand to educate residents on what to do after the quake.